Mine-insulator.



C. W. SPEAKMAN.

MlNE INSULATOR. l

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29, 1909-.

` ticu-larlyA adapted for use oHA'RLEs W. sPEAKMA N, on MoNoNGAHELA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MIN E-IN SULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. .Patented Sept. 27, 1.910.

'Application tiled November 29, 1909. Serial No. 530,478.

oall whom it may concern.

it knownthat I, CHARLES lV. SPEAK- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America., residing at Monongahela city, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mine-Insulators,l of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to insulators parin mines and the object thereof is to provide an insulator in a manner as hereinafter set forth andclainied withmeans whereby the insulatorbody wilt be 'permanentlyv anchored in position; furthermore with means whereby the electrical conductor can/be conveniently positioned in the` insulator body; to provide means whereby thc insulator can be reversed and used at the juncture at mine entries for 'supporting the electrical conductor irrespective in what direction it extends; `with means for supporting the weight. of the insulator body as well as the electrical conducto-r and furthermore with means for conveying water from the roof of the mine so as to prevent the Aaccumulation thereof upon the lnsulator body. Further objects o the. invention are to 'provide an insulator for use in mines or for suspending anoverhead electrical conductor,'which shall be simple in its construction, strong, durable, efficient in its use, readily set up in operative position, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

From the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically deillustrated 1u the accompany' scribed and ing drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is o be understood that changes, variations anA modifications can be resorted to which come-within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In 'the drawings wherein like reference characters denote ('.orrespondingiparts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the anchoring element of an insulator in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is av side elevation of the anchoring-element, Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating the supporting element of the insulator, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the insulator body, Figx is a top plan view of the in- `ed as is obvious.

sulator body, Fig. 6 is a bottoln plan of the insulator body, Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the insulator, and Fig. 8 a horizontal sectional view thereof.

An insulator in accordance with this i nvention comprises an anchoring element, a Supporting element and an insulator body. The anchoring element consists of a body portion l which is bifurcated as at 2 to provide a pair vof arms 2a, the free end of said arms tapering. Each of the arms :Za has its outer "face vformed with, a, lateraily-extend` ing series of prongs 3 which constitute hold fast devices when the anchoring element is in position. rl`he prongs are beveled. The lower end of the body integral with a shank 4 which is of less diportion l is formed.

ameter than the body portionl whereby an annular shoulder-4 is provided which constitutes aV stop forl the movement of the insulator bodyrin one direction. 'lbe lower end of the shank 4 is reduced as at 5 and above the reduced end is formed a key slot (i for the reception of a wedge shaped key 14 which constitutes the supporting member for the .insulator body and also-acts-as a. stop to prevent the insulator body from shifting on the shank 4. The shank t is furthermore provided with a \-'erticallydis'- posed groove 7 which terminates in a groove 7 formed in the lower portion of the body portion l and said grooves 7 and 7 form, what. may be termed a conduit for conducting water from the top of the insulator body.

The insulator body is indicated by the reference character 8 and is formedwith a cen trally disposed opening 8 to permit of the mounting of said body S upon the shank 4. The bottom of the insulator body S is provided with a key way 16 which receives the key 14- whon the latter extends through the slot (3. The insulator body S rests upon the key 14 and the walls of the key way 16 are adapted to engage the key 14 whereby the shifting or rotative movement of the insulator body upon the shank 4 will be prevent- The insulator 4body 8 at its top is formed with a concavity 9 which communicates with the groove 7 whereby the water which collects in said concavity't) can be conducted therefrom and discharged at the lower end of the shank 4. The key way 1G-,at the bottom of the insulator body 8 is'formed by a pair, of integral spaced lugs l5, as clearlysishown-,in Figs. (5 and 7. The rear side of the'insulator body 8 is formedA with a transversely-extending groove andthe front side of the said in sulator body 8 is formed with an angularly disposed groove 1l. The latter is adapted to receive the electrical conductor 11 and which is retained in place by 'abinding wire mounted in the groove 10 and extending over the'conductor 11a. The inner Wall 12A of the groove '11 is rounded at each end as at 13 which enables the conductor to be used y at the juncture of entries lwhereby the electrical4 conductor can extend in both entries. The rounding of the inner ivall 12 dispenses with sharp corners, these `latter often times causing the conductor to break. I

The reduced end 5 ofthe shank 4 prevents tlie shank from being injured or distorted when the anchoring elementis driven in the roof or other support, 'which would net be the case if the anchoring element was driven at the tree terminus of the shank as the blows of the hammer would, as is obvious injure the shank and'interfere with the mounting ofthe insulator body 8 upon the shank.4

` `When the anchoringelement is driven into the roof of the mine or other support 'the prongs S'retain said element in osition While the opening formed by the ifurcation receives pieces of coal that also assist in holding'the anchor in place.

After the' anchoringeleinent has -been driven home, the insulator body 8 is positioned upon the shank until it engages the shoulder 4:".- Th'e key 14' is then driven t home which maintains the insulator bodyin by the latter is position upon the .shank 4 and also'prevent rotation of the insulator body. `'The electri-v cal conductor Vis then placed in the groove 11, thebinding wire mounted in the groove 10 and extendedover the conductor Whereconnected'to-f the insulator body.

veviaa That claim is 1. An insulator comprising the combiiii tion' with an anchoring element-formed with a Water conducting groove, o'aiif'lin'i sulator body mounted upon said element-and having a stop' provided with a concavity and constituting a collector for water and communicating with the groove and said element.

' 2. An insulator comprising an anchoring element provided with a. Water-conducting" groove, an insulator body mounted, on the 'and having its movement in one` direction arrested by said stop5 and means carried by said element for supporting the insulator body 'and further preventing rotative movement of the insulator body upon said ele- A ment; l

4. An insulator comprisingabody-portion having its bottom formed oa pair of spaced lugs to provide a-ke -wa-y; said body-port tion further rovide ,-ihvith an opening extending lengt wise with respect thereto and,

liavingpits lower 4end arranged to one side` of vone end of the key-way.

In testimony whereof I aix my Signatu re in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES W. SPEAKMAN.

Witi'iesses:v i

Smzrrm J'. IsLER. 

